Bag.



J. FLAX.

BAG.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15.1914.

1,1 21 ,343, Patented Dec.15.1914.

THE NORRIS PErERS 1:0 PHOTOJJ1H0 WASHING TON. D 1

UNITED STATES' JOSEPH FLAX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BAG'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

Application filed April 15, 1914. Serial No. 831,96).V

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH FLAx, a citi- .zen of the United States,residing at New York, county of New York, State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Bags, of which the followingV isa specification.

My invention relates Vto a new and improved bag and more particularly tothe method of construction thereof.

As is well known, traveling bags are subjected to very rough usage andheavy strain. This is particularly true when a bag is packed and otherbags or weights are thrown upon it. In such cases, the sides of the bagin a short time become crushed in. In addition to the unsightlyappearance of such a bag the pressure tends to break and crack theleather and the bag is soon rendered useless. I overcome these defectsby having resilient reinforcing strips secured in the sides or top ofthe bag. These strips are preferably made of metal although any otherspringy resilient material may be used.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bagembodying my invention showing one side partly broken away. Fig. 2 is across sectional view of the bag. Fig. 3 is a sectional view in detail ofone of the stiifening members taken along the line as :e of Fig., l.Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 2 of a modification.

In the form of bag illustrated, the bag consists of a usual base ahaving sides b which extend for part of their distance straight up fromthe bottom of the bag. The upper part of the sides taper until they meetat the top or mouth of the bag.

The bag is made with a reinforcing box like member of leather or cardboard (Z which is placed inside the bagand extends entirely around theinside of the bag and is of the same height as the straight part of thesides and ends. This stiifening member (Z of course renders the lowerpart of the bag firm and rigid so that it will hold its shape. Itbecomes necessary however to reinforce the upper parts c of the sides asthat is where the weight and strain comes and is the part that isusually broken. In order to accomplish this result I place a series ofreinforcing strips e which extend, from ,the

top of the stiffening member Z to the top of the bag, as shown in Figs.1 and 2, where they are rigidly secured to the frame or jaws f of thebag. These reinforcing strips e are preferably made of thin lightresilient metal, although they may be made of bone or bamboo etc. Thestrips are preferably secured to the inside of the bag by means of astrip of cloth 7L sewed on each side of the metal strip e so as to forma sort of pocket which holds the strip in place. If desired of coursethe bag may have still another lining to cover both the strip e and thepocket h so that the reinforcing strips e are entirely invisible whenthe bag is opened. It will be readily seen that these resilient metallicstrips hold the upper part of the bag in perfect shape and if any weightor pressure is exerted on the bag, they are sufficient to protect it andwhen the weight is removed the bag immediately springs back to itsproper shape.

In the drawing I have shown but three reinforcing strips but of courseany desired number may be used.

I/Vhile I have shown the strips as starting from the stiffener (Z asindicated in Figs. l and 2; they may also if Adesired extend fartherdown to the bottom a of the bag, as indicated in Fig. 4.

I claim 1. A bag having a pair of frames to constitute jaws, a boxsecured inv the lower inner portion of the bag, a series of curvedreinforcing strips located along the inner sides of the bag, each striphaving its upper end secured to a jaw and with its lower end terminatingbetween the wall of the upper portion of the box and the side of thebag.

2. A bag having a pair of frames to constitute jaws, a box secured inthe lower inner portion of the bag, a series of curved reinforcingstrips located along the inner sides of the bag, each strip having itsupper end secured to a jaw and with its lower end terminating betweenthe wall of the upper portion of the box and the side of the bag, and apocket to prevent shifting of the strip.

3. A bag having a pair of frames to con- Y stitute jaws, a box securedin the lower inner portion of the bag, a series of curved reinforcingstrips located along the inner sides of the bag, each strip having itsupper my hand in the presence of two subscribing end secured to a jawand with its lower end witnesses.

terminating between the wall of the upper portion of the hoX and theside of the bag, JOSEPH FLAX' 5 and a pocket inclosng the inner portionof Witnesses:

the strip. CHRISTIAN H. ALMSTAEDT,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set HAZEL MCELROY.

Y Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents leach, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

